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Our take: First Night York back on!

Updated:
12/07/2012 02:52:23 PM EST

York City Electrical Bureau/Building Maintenance workers discuss how to stabilize the city's white rose so it doesn't sway too much during its ascent to or descent from the top of Citizens Bank in Continental Square on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. (File)

Assorted thoughts on city special events:

Sprinting to the rescue: Cheers to Sprint for stepping forward to save York's New Year's Eve celebration.

The company came up with $20,000 to help fund a "full-blown event," with fireworks, live entertainment and, of course, the familiar white rose drop. Mayor Kim Bracey said other local businesses also stepped forward with smaller donations - and cheers to them, too.

It's great news that the city won't miss out on a nice tradition, bringing people together at the heart of our county to ring in the new year.

How disappointing it would have been to see other, smaller local communities pull off New Year's Eve "drops" - a pickle in Dillsburg, a cigar in Red Lion, etc. - but our county's largest, most central municipality be unable to keep its tradition alive.

The York Newspaper Co. had offered the city an in kind-donation of advertising to help promote the event. The offer still stands, and we hope the city takes us up on it.

Privatization: Cheers also to downtown restaurants and bars that had planned to put on their own New Year's Eve celebration in the absence of the "rose drop" - plans that have now been canceled because the city will hold the traditional event on the square.

We had previously suggested that downtown businesses pick up the rose and run with it if the city couldn't - essentially putting on their own privatized event.

The owners of Mudhook Brewing Co.

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, Holy Hound Taproom and White Rose Bar and Grill were planning to do just that with a "First Pint" celebration - complete with the drop of a pint of beer at midnight.

Rather than have a pity party for the loss of the rose drop, they were just going to have a party. Live entertainment would have shut down the area of West Clarke Avenue and North Beaver Street, and those who attended could purchase beverages inside any of the participating establishments and then enjoy them in the enclosed area.

Of course, that's not the same as First Night, which was nonalcoholic and family friendly. But it sounds like it could have been fun.

Here's a thought: Next year, combine forces. Perhaps the city, the bars/restaurants and other businesses surrounding the Beaver Street arts district could work together to put on a combined celebration. Rope off a libation/entertainment area - but hold the rose drop on the square for folks to come with their kids and count down together.

The city might still need outside donations for such an event, but perhaps such a set-up would lessen the load on any one donor.

Regionalize fundraising: Finally, York city public works director Jim Gross' idea of tasking an umbrella group to raise funds and plan special events throughout the area has merit and should not be dropped like a rose - or a hot potato.

The agencies he suggested could handle that work - the Cultural Alliance, the United Way - don't seem interested in taking on a task that's not their core function. Fair enough.

But perhaps a department of the county tourism and convention bureau could be created to help fund the things that define our community and make it special. Or perhaps the events could be funded the way the steam whistle concert (which is truly unique to York) is funded through the York County Community Foundation. A fund is created that people can contribute to, assuring the event continues into the future.

Such an entity need not focus exclusively on the city, either - there are special events throughout the county such as Fourth of July celebrations in townships and boroughs that might benefit from such coordinated funding and planning.

How about it? Is there anyone out there will to take on this admittedly difficult but important job?

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